End loading carton



V. A. EDWARDS END LOADING CARTON March 3, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 24, 19s? March 3, 1970 v. A. EDWARDS END LOADING CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 24, 1967 United States Patent 3,498,496 ENDLOADING CARTON Vernon A. Edwards, 495 W. Queens Road, North Vancouver,British Columbia, Canada Filed Nov. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 685,511 Claimspriority, application Canada, Nov. 25, 1966,

Int. (:1. B65d 75/00 US. Cl. 220105 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn end loading carton blank and a carton made from the blank isdescribed consisting of an integral structure comprising a top panel, apair of side panels connected to the top panel, a base panel integrallyattached to a respective one of each of the side panels and alongitudinal partition member integrally attached to at least one of thebase panels. A handle is integrally attached to the longitudinalpartition member and a reinforcing tab integrally attached to one of thebase panels in affixable to the other of the base panels. End flaps maybe provided on the ends of each of the top, side, and base panels forclosing the ends of the carton, and an end tab may be provided on thepartition member for fixing to a selected end flap.

This invention relates to cartons. More particularly the inventionprovides an end loaded carton for the carrying of bottles, cans or otherindividual objects.

It is well known that cartons have become widely used for the shipmentand storage of bottles in the beverage industries and in general thesecartons are provided with a handle, can be top loaded, and include asealed top for shipment. One disadvantage of top loading is that themachinery handling the bottles requires both a sideways and a downwardmovement. End loading is more rapid because the bottles can be pushedinto the carton from the side in one movement as it passes along aconveyor.

In the past, difiiculty has been experienced in constructing asatisfactory end-loaded carton which will be cheap, be easily closed,have good strength and a convienent handle for carrying the containerboth before and after it has been opened.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacksexperienced in the prior art and to fabricate a carton having a handleintegrally formed with the material from which the carton isconstructed, to provide a carton having great strength at its base wherethe load of the contents is applied and to provide an end closurefeature which is quick to seal, neat in appearance and which adds to thestrength of the overall structure.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from thediscription which follows:

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of a blank from which one embodiment of theinvention may be formed,

FIGURE 2 shows a carton in the course of assembly to show how theinterior parts fit together,

r 4 3,498,496 [Ca Patented Mar. 3, 1970 FIGURE 3 shows a perspectiveview of the erected carton in the process of having its end closed,

FIGURE 4 shows a view of the assembled closed carton with the carryinghandle extended,

FIGURE 5 shows a sectional view along line V--V of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a second embodiment ofthe invention,

FIGURE 7 shows the blank of FIGURE 6 partly folded for gluing,

FIGURE 8 shows a stacked arrangement of folded cartons of FIGURES 6 and7 being erected.

FIGURE 9 shows a perspective view of the assembled carton from the blankof FIGURE 6, With the end flaps in the process of being closed and withthe handle retracted, and

FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 show transverse sectional views through the cartonof FIGURE 6, in a handle with drawing sequence, firstly with the handlein its retracted position, secondly, when the handle is half way betweenits retracted and its extended position and thirdly, a view of thehandle in its extended position.

With reference now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a blank 1 comprises a pluralityof integrally connected panels which when suitably folded can beassembled into the carton of FIGURE 4. The blank comprises a top panel2, side panels 3 and 4, half bottom panels 5 and 6, a pair of internallongitudinal partition members 7 and 8 in which are formed handlesections 9 and 9. The panels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 carry end flaps 10 to 19of specific shape and whose structure will be described later.Longitudinal partition panel '8 carries top securing tabs 20 and 21 andlongitudinal panel 7 carries end locating tabs 22 and 23 for fixing tothe end flaps. Top panel 2 includes a perforation line 24 defining atear-off top section. The top 2 also includes a severed line 25 to allowsection 26 to be hinged out of the plane of the top by pivoting abouthinge score line 27. Cut lines 28 are formed on the line 27 to assist inthe hinging of the section 26, so shaped to prevent tearing along line27 and to provide an 'anti-pilfering device by preventing the raising ofthe handle and subsequent removal of an article within the cartonwithout breaking or bending the lugs defined by the lines 28. To enablesection 26 to be easily lifted by the legitimate user a finger insertionsection is cut into the top at 29 and hinges about score line 30'. Theadjacent panels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 arehinged to one another at scorelines 31 to 36 and the handle portions 9 and 9' hinge at score lines 37and 38. To make the handle portions more flexibly hinged, cut-lines 39and 40 are formed adjacent the hinge lines 37 and 38 respectively, andshaped to provide projecting lugs which will prevent contained articles,such as bottles, touching after loading the carton. Hinge score line 35is not continuous along the border between bottom section 5 andlongitudinal panel section 7 but includes cut lines 42 and 43 to allowthe formation of bottom reinforcing tabs 44 and 45.

The carton may now be assembled by adopting the procedure shown inFIGURE 2. The longitudinal partition 8 is lifted up from the plane shownin FIGURE 1, has glue placed on the faces of tabs 20 and 21 which arethen atfixed to the face of top 2 at 46 and 47 respectively to form anenclosed space 50 for articles to be contained in the carton. The handleportion 9 is bent up and folded into the position shown. Flaps 19 and 14are glued on the underface of edges 48 and 48 respectively. Theunderface of panel 7, as shown in FIGURE 2, is now glued and it too isfolded up in the same manner as partition 8, has its handle portion 9broken out and laid in face to face contact with portion 9. Thus the twounderfaces of panels 7 and 8 with reference to FIGURE 1 become gluedtogether and form a longitudinal partition for a carton with open ends.The inwardly facing parts of the handle portions 9 and 9' are also gluedwith their upper sections 51 and 52 folded into recessed positionbeneath the top closure panel 26 (see FIGURE At this stage the gluededges 48 and 48 of flaps 19 and 14 stick to areas 49 and 49 of flaps 18and 13 respectively.

The strength of the bottom of the carton is greatly improved by thepresence of the bottom reinforcing tabs 44 and 45. These have been gluedon their upper faces as shown in FIGURE 1, and are stuck to the portions59 and 60 of panel 6 shown in FIGURE 2 (see also FIG- URE 5).

At this stage the carton may be collapsed into stacking position bypressing diagonally separated edges 33 and 32 or 31 and 34 towards oneanother.

Subsequently the cartons may be taken from the stacks one by one,erected by pressing on the opposite diagonal edges to those pressed forcollapsing and a charge of hottles or other articles pushed into the endof the erected carton.

The end flaps are next closed and having reference to FIGURE 3 thesequence for one end is: to fold in joined flaps 18 and 19 together;fold in flap 15, which in turn folds tab 23 into position, attached topanel 7 across into the position shown; then to spray glue onto thefaces of flaps 18 and 19, 15 and tab 23; and fold in the fiaps 16 and17. The perforation lines 55 and 56 on flaps 16 and 17 correspond withthe line 57 on tab 15 to enable easy removal of the part of top sectiondefined by perforation line 24.

It can be seen that this assembly produces very rigid tying between thelongitudinal partitions of the carton and further strengthens them byfixing them to the end section of the carton by virtue of tabs 22 and23, and finally secures them to the top portion by means of tabs 20 and21. If desired tabs 20 and 21 may be increased in size and scored at thejunction lines between the stippled and plain areas in FIGURE 1. Thisimproves the :bond to top 2, and ensures that the tabs remain afiixed tothe top when it is subsequently torn off. The rim around the top of thecarton between lines 24 and edges 31 and 32 gives extra strength to thecarton against side forces when it is being handled after opening. Ifline 24 coincided with edges 31 and 32 this reinforcement would beabsent.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 the bottomreinforcing tabs 44 and 45 are replaced by a single tab 61.

A tear-off top part 80 is also employed in the top panel 62 and the topis slit partially along its central longitudinal axis to form an opening81 with small fold-down portions 82 and 83 which hinge about lines 84and 85 respectively. The fold-down portions create small finger recessesfirstly to allow handy pick-up of the entire carton by inserting twofingers under the top, and secondly to allow easy access for handleerection.

The handle structure is however different and includes an upper handlemember 90 and 91, an intermediate panel 92 and 93, and hinge panels 94and 95.

The carton may be assembled in a similar manner to that described forthe embodiment of FIGURE 1, but the most convenient method of gluinghowever is shown in FIGURE 7 in which the central partition members 96and 97 have been folded up from the position of FIG- URE 6.

The sequence of assembly is to apply glue to the blank of FIGURE 6 fromboth above and below to all the areas shown stippled in FIGURES 6 and 7whilst the blank is laid out as shown in FIGURE 6.

A fold is then made about line 68 to bring the right hand side of theblank to its position in FIGURE 7 at the same time folding theintermediate panel 93 to bring handle member 91 into the retractedposition. The top securing tabs 20 and 21 become affixed to the top.

The blank is then folded at line 63, and simultaneously intermediatepanel 92 is hinged on lines 100 and 102 to bring handle portion 90 tothe position of FIGURE 7.

The blank now in the condition of FIGURE 7 is folded about line 65 toproduce the complete but unerected carton.

The carton may subsequently be stacked fiat with other cartons, in ahopper 109 as shown in FIGURE 8, and placed adjacent the machine whichis to fill it with articles. When erection is required the cartons canbe pulled down one at a time by gripping with suction cups 110 againstthe smooth under surface of tab 61, and engagement of edge 65 againstlip 111 of the hopper 109. One advantage of the large tab 61 is that thesuction cups can easily be placed so that they will not overlap a stepbetween tab 61 and an uncovered portion of base panel 89. As the base ispulled down the carton swings to erect position. The central partitionbeing double and being integral with each half 89 and 108 of the base isprevented from bowing during this phase.

The carton may then be end-filled with articles and its end flaps closedas shown in FIGURE 9. The edges 74, and 71 of flaps 69 and 70 and 71,are so shaped that as flaps 69 and the glued pair 70 and 71 are foldeddown and up respectively, the end tab 22 enters into camming cooperationwith edges 74, 70' and 71' and swings across to lie parallel with theend of the carton. In practice the end closing machine may swing, say,flap 69 before the other two. If so it may be desirable to include alocking notch shown at 69' in broken lines with which the edge of tab 22will engage. Glue is then sprayed onto the faces of flaps 69, 70, 71 and22 as seen in FIG- URE 9 and the flaps 72 and 73 are folded in. Theflaps 69, 70 and 71 are of such size that they help protect the contentsof the carton from being splashed with glue and the gap between them iscovered by the partition tab 22.

The opposite end of the carton is closed in a similar manner, and thecontents of the carton are likewise protected from spray of glue. Notchmay be included if desired for locking tab 23.

The sectional views of FIGURES 10, 11, and 12 show the operation andstructure of the carrying handle for this embodiment. In the positionshown in FIGURE l() the handle is in its retracted position. In thisposition the hinge panels 94 and 95 are generally in the plane of theirintegrally attached partition sections 96 and 97 (in FIG- URES 10 to 12the parts of the handle are drawn slightly distorted for the purposes ofclarity). If the handle is now raised by reaching into the top of thecarton as shown in FIGURE 11, the intermediate sections 92 and 93 hingeabout lines 100 and 101 and 102 and 103 respectively. To allow thisaction, the hinge panels 94 and 95 move apart hinging along lines 107and 108 respectively. When the handle goes beyond the position of FIGURE11 into the position of FIGURE 12 the hinge panel members by continuedrotation of the intermediate members 92 and 93 about their hinge lines100 and 102 and 101 and 103 respectively, fall into the plane of thepartitions 96 and 97. The user then places his hand through the. slot inthe handle bending back the tabs 105 and 106 to allow a comfortablegrip.

Many advantages flow from the structures of the invention. Thelongitudinal partition is of double thickness giving it strength andresistance to bending when the carton is erected. The partition includesend tabs which fasten it rigidly to the closed end and both strengthenit and hold it accurately located beneath the handle opening in the topof the carton. Since each half of the partition is integrally attachedto one half of the base the load of the articles in each side of thecarton is transferred directly to its adjacent partition (when thecarton is lifted by the handle). Also because each half base isintegrally connected to its adjacent side wall and the top, there is awrap-around action tending to nest the articles against the partition.

The formation of the tear off top so that a vestigial rim remains afterthe tear out portion has been removed enhances the sideways crushingresistance of the carton after it has been opened.

The bottom tab formed from material of the adjacent partition firmlyunites the two halves of the base but leaves a smooth surface bothinside and outside the base. There is thus no interference between thebase and articles being pushed into it, and the erecting pull downapparatus also finds a smooth surface to be engaged.

The handle being integral with the partition receives the load from thepartition directly and is less likely to tear than if slidingly orotherwise engaging the partition or other internal structure of thecarton. Being collapsible the handle can be pushed down whenever it isnot required.

By the avoidance of all internal structure except the partition endloading is possible.

I claim:

1. A one-piece blank for constructing a carton, said blank being scoredand incised to provide a top panel, a pair of side panels integrallyconnected with said top panel, a base panel integrally attached to arespective one of each of said side panels, a longitudinal partitionmember integrally attached to each of said base panels, a handle portionintegrally attached to each said longitudinal partition member,

and a bottom reinforcing tab integrally formed with a selected one ofsaid base panels and cut from the partition member integrally attachedto said selected one base panel, said reinforcing tab being affixable tothe other of said base panels.

2. A blank as defined in claim 1 comprising an end flap integrallyattached to at least one of said top, side, and base panels for formingan end wall to said carton,

and an end locating tab integrally attached to at least one of saidpartition members for adhesion to said end flap.

3. A blank as defined in claim 1 at least one of said longitudinalpartition members having at least one end locating tab;

each of said top, side and base panels having an end flap integrallyattached thereto,

chosen ones of said end flaps being shaped to define,

upon folding of said blank and erection of said carton and inwardfolding of said end flaps, a relieved space for accommodation and fixingof said partition end locating tab to a chosen other of said inwardlyfolded end flaps.

4. A blank as defined in claim 3 comprising a tear out perforation linedefined in said top panel said perforation line being inwardly of thescored lines defining the junction of said side panels and said top.

5. A blank as defined in claim 3 comprising an incised opening in saidtop panel for withdrawal of said handle portion therethrough, saidincised opening defining a lug in said top panel preventing withdrawalof said handle portion without mutilation of said lug.

6. A blank as defined in claim 3 comprising a handle portionrespectively attached to each of said longitudinal partition members,

each said handle portion comprising a hinge panel portion, an integrallyattached intermediate section and an integrally attached grippingportion, said gripping portions being afiixable to one another in mutualside by side arrangement, said longitudinal partitions also beingaffixable to one another in mutual side by side arrangement, said handlethereby being movable from a retracted to an extended position and viceversa by hinging of said intermediate and said hinge panel portions.

*7. A blank as defined in claim 3, selected ones of said end flapsincluding a camming surface for engagement of said partition endlocating tab upon folding of said selected end flaps, for swinging saidend locating tab into alignment with the end of said carton and at rightangles to the plane of its partition member.

8. A blank as defined in claim 1, comprising a pair of [bottomreinforcing tabs integrally attached to said one of said base panels.

9. A blank as defined in claim 1, a selected one of said longitudinalpartition members having at least one top securing tab afiixable to saidtop.

10. A blank as defined in claim 7, said camming surface including alocking notch defined therein fo engaging the edge of said end locatingtab.

11. An end loading carton which comprises a top panel, a pair of sidepanels integrally connected with said top panel, a base panel integrallyattached to a respective one of each said side panels, a longitudinalpartition member integrally attached to each said base panels, a handleportion integrally attached to each said longitudinal partition member,

and a bottom reinforcing tab integrally formed with a selected one ofsaid base panels and cut from the partition member integrally attachedto said selected one base panel, said reinforcing tab being afiixed tothe other of said base panels.

12. A carton as defined in claim 11 comprising an end flap integrallyattached to at least one of said top, side, and base panels for formingan end wall to said carton,

and an end locating tab integrally attached to at least one of saidpartition members and affixed to said end flap.

13. A carton as defined in claim 11, at least one of said longitudinalpartition members having at least one end locating tab,

each said top, side, and base panels having an end flap integrallyattached thereto,

chosen ones of said end flaps being shaped to define a relieved spacefor accommodation of said partition end locating tab and means fasteningsaid partition end locating tab to a chosen other of said end flaps.

14. A carton as defined in claim 13 comprising a tearout perforationline defined in said top panel said perforation line being inwardly ofthe scored lines defining the junction of said side panels and said top.

15. A carton as defined in claim 13 comprising an incised opening insaid top panel for withdrawal of said handle portion therethrough, saidincised opening defining a lug in said top panel preventing withdrawalof said handle portion without mutilation of said lug.

16. A carton as defined in claim 13 comprising a handle portionrespectively attached to each of said longitudinal partition members,each said handle portion comprising a hinge panel portion, an integrallyattached intermediate section and an integrally attached grippingportion, said gripping portions being afiixed to one another in mutualside by side arrangement, said longitudinal partitions also beingatfixed to one another in mutual side by side arrangement, said handlethereby being movable from a retracted to an extended position and viceversa by hinging of said intermediate and said hinge panel potrions.

17. A carton as defined in claim 13, selected ones of said end flapsincluding a camming surface for engagement of said partition endlocating tab for swinging said end locating tab into alignment with theend of said carton and at right angles to the plane of its partitionmember.

18. A carton as defined in claim 11, comprising a pair of bottomreinforcing tabs integrally attached to said one of said base panels andafiixed to the other base panel.

7 19. A carton as defined in claim 11, a selected one of saidlongitudinal partition members having at least one top securing tabafiixed to said top.

20. A carton as defined in claim 17, said camming surface including alocking notch defined therein for engaging the edge of said end locatingtab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,354,528 7/1944 Lowry et a1.220105 3,258,152 6/1966 Cameron 220--105 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, PrimaryExaminer 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1966 Canada. 6/ 1966 Canada. 6/1966 Canada.7/1966 Canada.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

